STUDIO TIME: PAINT AND TEXTILES

"Modern Dwelling"  14" X 11" acrylic on canvas,   Lori LaBerge  2017 

Painting and rug hooking took over the studio this week. Work from both memory and photographs is leading to more geometric drawings making their way into the sketchbook, onto canvas and onto linen.

Section of studio set-up for work.

Painting started out with a sketch on canvas. Emphasis on the curved shape seen on many of the homes along Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles was created through the use of bright white standing out among the other colors.

Texture was added to the canvas before paint was applied. There was a decision on whether or not to use texture in the painted works. I had pondered going with a smoother technique, but through studying the photographs what appeared from a distance to be smooth exteriors on homes was actually quite textural. 

"Residential Curve" in progress  14" X 11" wool on linen,  Lori LaBerge  2017

Another work focusing on the curve of modern homes is partially completed using wool. The yellow area is looking a bit small right now and may need to be enlarged height wise. The combination of painted and rug hooked work is in the experimental stages right now.

IN THE STUDIO THIS WEEK

There were quite a bit of odds and ends done this week along with the task of shortening the "to do" list. 

 "Missing Windows" was finally completed.  Yarns similar in color to the hooked wool were used for whipping the edges and nails were hand-stitched to the black window portions.  I am sealing the doorplate that will be used to sign the piece and will stitch it on this coming week.

Here you can see the various colors used in the dark window sections.  I used nails that I collected when builders were working on the studio.  I love the different shapes and the paint and plaster attached to some of them.

Quite a bit of paperwork was done preparing folders for classes, calls and e-mails were made for permission to use photos of other artists' work and planning was made for a panel discussion to be held at the TIGHR conference in October.

I worked on framing for pieces being shipped to Sauder Village for the Plein Air group exhibit.  I also tested frame sizes for the two section piece "Bridging the Gap".  On the table to the left and the far right you can see books sitting on top of backing paper glued to the back of framed works.  After the glue sets, a box cutter will be used to trim extra paper, the work will be signed, hanging wire will be installed and the work will then be ready to pack.

Photos of various works were taken with lighting attached to ladders and poles.  Hey, there's that broom from the paperwork photo above.  It sure does get around!

Though there is still quite a bit of work to do, it felt good to get some items crossed off this week.  Check off some of your own "to do" list items, enjoy your accomplishments and have a great day.

STUDIO TOUR WEEKEND

The Toe River Studio Arts Tour (this link is a download of the tour catalog) is in full force this weekend and a few pieces have found new homes.  I'm working on finishing and framing the latest works while discussing art with those stopping by. Also enjoying talking to people about where they are from and their travels along the tour route.  The tour lasts through Sunday. Here are a few photos of how the studio and gallery are set up for the weekend.

The view upon entering the studio.  It is surprisingly clean as I usually have wool scattered throughout the room when color planning.

Another view with some wool laid out on the work table for an abstract figurative piece and new design plans over the sewing machine area.

I pinned up various 1/2 yards of dyed wool on one wall to add some color to the studio.  I'm planning on leaving it up as it is already inspiring new color plans.

One wall of the gallery area with both studio and plein air work.

Striped series work.

Some of the "Road Series" works.  Others are at the TRAC Gallery.

I wanted to put at least one floor piece on display.  It sits on a platform Pete and I made for it.

The artist reception at the TRAC Gallery in Spruce Pine.  There was quite a crowd and we had the chance to visit with friends old and new while enjoying wine and dessert.  There are very few fiber artists on the tour so it was great to visit with a couple of them.

There is one more day of the tour and the studio awaits more visitors tomorrow.  As you can see, landscaping is not done yet.  Hopefully, soon.

Search out some studio tours locally or relax while searching studio tour images on the internet and have a great day.

PREPARATION FOR STUDIO TOUR, LARGE FIGURATIVE RUG HOOKING STARTED

Quite a bit of preparation work took place in the studio this week.

  We completed painting the floor of the open area in the garage section of the studio.  This will be the room where I hang pieces and set up pedestals and tables for the studio tour.  Doors lead to storage and workshop areas.  This would be a great space to hold classes and work on larger projects also, though it is not air-conditioned or heated.

Here is the other side of the open area.  Doors lead to storage and working studio areas.  I'll have to rig up something to hide the sink during the tour.

The storage area is still awaiting more shelving for organization.  Next week's project.

The work studio will need some cleaning also.  Framing and design work are on the table now.  I love not having to clean the table after each work day.

Large foam board (32 X 40) arrived for mounting some larger works.

These works will be used with the foam board.  I'm finding the rail for hanging works in the finishing process to be a great help as projects can be kept in order and in view.

I did manage to start work on another 30 X 30 figurative work.  Here the linen is being cut to size.

The work was hand drawn onto the linen.  Yes, those are wine bottles you see being used to hold the linen in place.  They are a reminder of my reward when the work day is done.  I will most likely need to dye wool for this piece, though I'll see what is on the shelves.  The design process for this work was discussed in a past post here.

Enjoy preparing for your various projects and events, organize in a way that works for you and have a great day.

PREPARING FOR JUNE STUDIO TOUR, CREATING A PORTFOLIO

As the month of April will be spent mostly on the road, I am getting an early start on preparations for the Toe River Studio Tour in June.  Since everything has been moved from the old studio, the new studio is in a bit of disarray with boxes everywhere.  I did, however, manage a bit of organization this week.

Monday was spent on more finishing work.

"Ocean Surf"  10 X 10 framed size,  Lori LaBerge  2014

The edges were whipped with three shades of blue.  A dark fabric was used for the background as it showed off the colors in this work better than the light gray background I used on a piece shown in last week's post.  

I purchased a small sideboard for display purposes and storage.  Since red is my accent color in the studio, this was perfect.

Tuesday was spent starting display.  I'm working one wall at a time.  This area will show some of the smaller items that will be for sale.  I'm looking at various types of blinds and curtains to protect the fiber work from the sun.  When working, I will use the bar on the right for hanging wool, wall hangings, etc.  I am also deciding which type of hanging system to put in the studio so I do not have to keep patching nail holes.

Wednesday and Thursday were spent unpacking some boxes and hooking a little more on "Red Light in the City".  Yes, this piece will be done the hooking process next week.  It has taken a little longer than normal to finish this piece due to work on the new studio and preparations for April trips.

Friday was spent on paperwork.  I also decided it was time to redo my portfolio, which had photos of quite a bit of older work in it.  I replaced all the sheets with the "Road Series", some of the "Stripe Series" and newer figurative work.

Since at least two of the galleries where I had work have closed this past year, I will be looking for new ones as I increase my inventory.  Everything is cohesive.  This portfolio, for example , includes geometric abstract and figurative abstract.  It does not include any of my plein air or landscape works as they are different from my abstract work and would create confusion for the gallery as to whether I was an abstract or landscape artist. 

A portfolio is a way for gallery owners to quickly look through work to see if it is of interest of them.  Photos of work come first.  Think about where you click first on an artist's website.  I would bet it is their gallery of work.

I include a photo of the work, the title, my name, the size and whether mounted or framed, the technique and the price.  It is important to make it as easy as possible for the gallery to see information.  I put the price up front as I remember finding it annoying to look through portfolios with a price list at the back.  Looking back and forth wastes time.  Some disagree with me on this and like to be more discreet with pricing.

Sample page from portfolio.  

I sometimes create a separate portfolio for visitors to the studio which may have a price list at the back.  If they are interested in purchasing a piece, they can find the price, but it is not up front preventing them from focusing on the work.  I place my resume, artist statement and bio at the back of the portfolio.  If you like, you can include clips on your work from newspapers or magazine articles.

If you are not selling, it is still important to keep a record of your work.  You may want to do yearly portfolios or simply one large one for personal use.  Include any information you think you or others may find of interest.  For a personal portfolio, you may want to include your inspiration for a piece, why you did it, any difficulties you encountered in creating the work, etc.  It is a wonderful feeling to look through it years later or have it for family members to browse through. 

Create a photo record of your work, enjoying browsing through it and have a great day.   

RUG HOOKING CONTINUES ON "RED LIGHT IN THE CITY", STUDIO CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

"Red Light in the City"  in progress, Lori LaBerge 2014

I completed hooking on the traffic light section and started with the grays that will surround it.  There are six different grays from light to dark.  The white wool I had needed to be washed so a dark holding line was placed in the lower light gray square to be replaced by the white later.  Dark purple lines were hooked along with the lighter purple to add focus and interest in that area.  

There will be a dyed green boucle wool hooked into the large square sections.  As the green is close to the gray colors, I want to add some other greens and randomly hook them into the squares along with the base green.

The base green is in the background of the two photos below and I will be deciding which scraps to add to the piece.

 These scraps are a bright yellow green which would bring out the yellow in the background textured wool.

This grouping is still in the yellow green family, but is duller which would give a more subtle color change.  I"ll try each of the groupings to see which works best with the traffic light as I don't want the viewer's eyes distracted from the central focus.

Think about the feeling you want to give your work and how color (light, bright, dull, dark, combinations, etc.) can help you reach that goal and have a great day.

STUDIO UPDATE--

I spent most of the week on studio construction.  There is quite a bit of finishing work which seems to be taking longer than other work we did.  We put caulking along all the moulding, stained wood, attached hinges for doors, readjusted the stove vent which the heating company put in the wrong place and moved cabinets to the right to be more centrally over the stove area.

We're using the storage area as our paint room right now.  I chose a medium gray color for the bathroom and storage room doors.  This goes really fast with the small door rollers available at paint stores.

Here is the bathroom door put in place.

I bought a runner for in front of the dye area to protect the wood veneer floor from water.  I also picked up a small water hog mat for under the sink.  Since I'm close to moving in, I put my wool awaiting the dye process in a blue bin under the sink and added a bright red trash can to match the red light over the sink. 

We emptied out our storage unit we've been renting and I found an old table the kids used to do their homework on.  Great memories!  I will sand the top, paint the bottom and use it for a dye table.  I also moved the bookcase into the dye area.

Two old file cabinets will hold a desktop board.  The files will follow the red theme and be spray painted.  The top board will be painted gray.  Since it is wider than the files and I don't want to cut it, I am going to buy some table legs, paint them the same gray as the desk top and put them under the overhanging section.

  Storage cubes were placed under the work table.  The table top was coated with polyurethane.

  We've done a lot of DIY construction in our lives and have learned that while most things go as planned, there are always problems.  This week's problem came when we called the electric department to hook up electricity.  We were told that we would have to dig the three foot deep trench that has to go from the pole to the building and call them when it was done.  We rented a trencher at the local machine rental center and got to work.  The area close to the building will have to be dug by hand this coming week.  Thus, we still have the long cord going from the house to the studio for electricity.

RESULTS FROM "HOOK A RUG WEEK" AND STUDIO UPDATE

Hook a Rug Week has come to an end and I have to thank Laura Kenney for coming up with the idea. It was much like being at an intensive rug camp.  I am hoping she does this again next year.  She allowed each person to choose the size piece they wanted to work on, which allowed for each person to challenge his or her self.  This is the piece I created:

"At the Coast"  30 X 30,  Lori LaBerge 2014

Here is how the work developed:

Saturday and Sunday-The design was planned. The figure was measured out and the background was roughly drawn on linen, the work was color planned and wool was dyed.

Monday-- The challenge started.  The figure was hooked with an orange and green spot dye.  A section of the background was hooked.  This was when it hit me that I only had a week to finish a 30 X 30.  I needed to figure out how much I had done this first day to know how much had to be completed each of the other days.  I usually use a 6-cut for this size, but am glad I decided on an 8-cut for this challenge.

Tuesday--I worked on the opposite side of the figure.  This gets tricky if you want things to line up as the hooked figure starts to distort the straight line of the backing material.  I did not want each of the striped background sections perfectly straight, but did not want them off balance either.  When drawing out the design, it helps to draw a line on the back of the design also.  As the hooking is flatter on the back, it is then easier to find the straight line across the figure.  

Wednesday-- With a 30 X30 piece I figured I had to complete at least 5" X 30" each day to be finished by Saturday afternoon.  This is a lot of hooking.  I took 10 minute breaks for each hour of hooking to stretch, go for a quick walk, or do arm exercises with a resistance band.  This helped out as I had no problems with backaches or my hooking hand bothering me.

 Thursday--If you look at Wednesday's photo then this one you can see a huge difference in the darker blue color.  The actual blue is somewhere in between.  I brought in a line of green below the black that was the same wool used in the circle.  This was the middle of the week and I felt pretty good about being able to finish at this point.  There is something about looking forward to seeing the end result that keeps me going during these kind of projects.

Friday--I worked on the bottom beach section with a soft beige textured wool.  The hooking went faster with this wool due to its thickness.  I brought the brighter blues down for balance. 

Saturday--I ran out of dark blue wool and had to do some dyeing.  A brighter blue was placed near the top.  The piece was completed at 3:00 p.m.  I still need to cut off some loose threads, steam and maybe tweak here and there.

Think about the things you can do when you challenge yourself, learn from each challenge, celebrate when finished and have a great day.

STUDIO UPDATE--

I purchased some closet storage units to use as a base and two 24" doors to use as a table top.  After searching the local antique and salvage shops I just could not find anything I liked.  This will give me a 6 1/2 foot by  4 foot  table top to work on and plenty of storage underneath.  The shoe cubby is perfect for holding skeins of yarn and smaller items while the cabinet will hold finishing materials.

This is the other side of the table.  I already had one maple storage unit and purchased the 6-cubby unit.  If you've been reading regularly, you will notice the fabric I had on the right hand shelving is gone.  The plumbers had a kerosene heater that smelled terrible and I did not want the fabric to pick up the smell, so I packed it up and brought it in the house.

Here's Pete painting the larger garage area.  Part of this area will be used for larger projects (I've really been wanting to do a large punched rug and build a light table) and further display space during open studio tours.

A utility sink was placed in the garage area.

The workshop area was painted.  It is a mirror image of the studio area.

 An attic door and the moulding around it were installed.  This needed to be done in order for the insulation to be blown in.

Here is where we ran into another problem.  We had not planned on installing the overhead doors as, quite frankly,  the doors we like are over budget right now.  The final inspection can not occur until they are installed, which means heat and water may not be activated.  I suggested plywood for now and the inspector said that would be fine.  So, hopefully, heat and water will be running this coming week.  Oh, wait, we are supposed to have a huge snowstorm this week.  Life goes on!